The 2008 Ryder Cup - Team Info See a photo gallery of Monday's press conference "Paul Azinger's passion for the game, his courage to battle back from debilitating disease and his leadership in past Ryder Cups make him the ideal leader to guide the American team in 2008 at Valhalla," said PGA of America President Roger Warren. "Paul is one of the game's biggest supporters of the Ryder Cup and his performances have earned him the respect of his peers as well as many around the world." In 15 career Ryder Cup matches, Azinger, the 1993 PGA Champion, compiled a record of 5-7-3, including a 2-0-2 mark in singles play. Shortly after the 1993 Ryder Cup, Azinger was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in his right shoulder. Azinger overcame his battle with cancer and became a Tour winner for the 12th time in his illustrious career with an emotional victory at the 2000 Sony Open in Hawaii. In his four Ryder Cup appearances, Azinger experienced both highs and lows.

His American side tied the Europeans in 1989 (Europe retained the Cup, having won in 1987), won outright in 1991 and 1993 and lost in 2002. In 2002, he was chosen as one of then-captain Curtis Strange's two at-large selections. In 1991 at Kiawah Island, Azinger earned a crucial point in his singles match with Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal, helping the American's to a 14?-13? win. In 2008, Azinger will square off against his ABC golf telecast booth-mate and Ryder Cup rival Nick Faldo, who will captain the Europeans. Arguably the most memorable on-course battle between Azinger and Faldo came in their singles match at the Belfry during the 1993 Ryder Cup. Faldo had a hole-in-one in the match and, despite the fact that the U.S. had picked up enough points to win the cup, the feisty Azinger fought back to earn a half-point. Azinger later joked when NBC Sports showed highlights of that singles duel, "Look at that.

I had cancer and he still couldn't beat me." "It will be a good rivalry," Azinger commented, "but it's America vs. Europe not Nick vs. Paul." Azinger even pointed out that he had received a congratulatory text message from his European counterpart two minutes before taking the podium for the captain's selection announcement. Faldo issued a statement immediately following the announcement of Azinger's selection. "I played in three Ryder Cups when Paul was in the opposing side, and for the last two years we have worked together commenting for the ABC network. I feel that we have respect for each other both on and off the course, and I am certain that we will both enjoy the challenge of captaining our respective Teams at Valhalla in just under two years time." Azinger was approached by the PGA of America about the possibility of captaining the U.S. team at the 2004 Ryder Cupï¿½a squad many believed would be captained by Azinger's close friend, the late Payne Stewart, who died in a plane crash shortly after the American's last Ryder Cup win in 1999 at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass. However, Azinger declined.

With Azinger at the helm in 2008, the U.S. will be looking for its first Ryder Cup win since 1999. In the last two matches, the U.S. has lost by a record margin of 18?-9? under Hal Sutton at Oakland Hills in 2004 and under Tom Lehman at the K Club in Ireland this past September. Azinger is a native of Holyoke, Mass., and a resident of Bradenton, Fla. He attended Brevard Junior College and Florida State University before turning professional in 1981. He captured his first Tour victory in 1987 and also earned that year's PGA Player of the Year Award. In 1995, he was honored by the Golf Writers Association of America with the Ben Hogan Award, presented to an individual who remains active in golf despite physical handicap or serious illness. Azinger and his wife, Toni, have two daughters: Sarah Jean, 21; and Josie Lynn, 15. Azinger joins a succession of golf's greatest players in the role of Ryder Cup Captain.

Walter Hagen, the first Captain in 1927, was followed by such legendary performers as Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Lee Trevino. Full Name: Paul Azinger Birthdate: 1.1.60; Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA Height/Weight: 6ft 2in / 175lbs (12st 5lbs) Family: Wife: Toni; Children: Sarah and Josie Interests: Fishing, foosball Time for a change with Team USA at Ryder Cup -- golf comment GLENEAGLES, Scotland -- Well, the USA lost the Ryder Cup. And birds chirp. And Starbucks serves lattes. And Ian Poulter wears hair product. What else is new? Every two years, the Americans get waxed and buffed by the Europeans. The USA team arrives humming "The Star-Spangled Banner," and leaves with "O-le, o-le, o-le, o-le," ringing in its ears. Sunday's defeat was the eighth out of the last 10 for the Americans. But it's even worse when they play in Europe.

The USA hasn't won on European soil since Normandy -- or, at least, it feels like it. It's bad enough to get dinged on the exchange rate, but this, too? Tom Watson's team tried. The Americans always try. But trying isn't the same as winning. And one of these days, the USA has to figure out a way to start winning Ryder Cups again. "Listen, the Europeans kicked our butt," Watson said. We know that. What we didn't know is that Watson and veteran Ryder Cup member Phil Mickelson didn't see eye to eye when it came to management styles. But the differences of opinion revealed themselves publicly in an awkward, sometimes uncomfortable post-defeat news conference where you could hear pins -- and jaws -- drop. The nutshell version is this: Mickelson was asked about the methods used in 2008 to give the USA its last Ryder Cup victory. That team was captained by Paul Azinger and featured a system of grouping four players into three separate "pods." The pods, so goes the thinking, encourage team unity and causes the players to invest in the process and in one another.

"Unfortunately, we have strayed from a winning formula in 2008 for the last three Ryder Cups," said Mickelson evenly, but with Watson sitting only a few seats away on the dais. "And we need to consider maybe getting back to that formula that helped us play our best." Asked, in essence, if the players were part of Watson's management process, Mickelson said, "Uh, no. No, nobody here was in any decision. So, no." It was a stunning moment. No USA player has played in more Ryder Cup matches than Mickelson. So when he questioned the logic of Watson, and by association, 2012 captain Davis Love III and 2010 captain Corey Pavin -- and does so in a public setting and not long after the latest loss -- it carried considerable weight. The 65-year-old Watson stared wearily ahead as Mickelson spoke. Asked if he thought Mickelson was being "disloyal," Watson said, "Not at all. ... That's OK. My management philosophy is different than his." It was bizarre, odd and surprisingly candid. But most of all, it was revealing.

If Mickelson felt this way, how many others on the team shared his feelings? Nobody really expected Team USA to leave Gleneagles with the Cup. The Europeans were overwhelming favorites and, as it turned out, they were overwhelming winners. Phil Mickelson wasn't shy about sharing his feelings on the direction of Team USA under the helm of captain Tom Watson. Lefty clearly felt the American side should return to the format that 2008 captain Paul Azinger used to help the U.S. to victory. Harry Engels/Getty Images It was going to take a golf miracle for the Americans to win this thing. They needed a Lake Placid, a Brookline, a reverse-Medinah to pull off the comeback. It didn't happen. Not even close. Down 10-6 to begin Sunday, they made a tiny bit of noise early and then vanished into the irrelevance of a 16 ½-11 ½ defeat. Irrelevance stinks. The default reaction is to blame someone wearing red, white and blue. And in this case, some of it is deserved. Blame Watson -- both of them. Captain Tom might have done all of his Ryder Cup homework, but he failed the final exam.

He miscalculated on Friday (he benched his hottest team, Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth , for the afternoon matches), he miscalculated on Saturday (he benched Mickelson the entire day) and, by his own admission, he miscalculated by playing players who were too tired to perform. By Sunday, it barely mattered what he did. Watson didn't lose this Ryder Cup by himself, but his 2014 captaincy leaves no fingerprints, no legacy. He came, he saw, he lost. Mickelson's comments only accentuated the defeat. Meanwhile, Bubba Watson didn't win as much as a half-point in his three matches. Some of it was bad timing (he played extremely well in Saturday morning's four-ball match but ran into the USA woodchopper known as Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson ), and some of it was simply indifferent play. He wasn't alone. Tom Watson's three captain's picks -- Hunter Mahan , Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley -- were a combined 2-5-2. Spieth was 3 up in his singles match against Graeme McDowell ... and lost. Mahan was up by four against Rose ... and could only halve the match.

Bubba, Rickie Fowler and Bradley never had a chance. And did I mention that the USA's three top-ranked players -- Bubba, Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar -- finished 2-9? But if you really want to blame somebody for the continued American beatdowns, blame Team Europe. You don't win eight out of 10 by luck. You win it because your team adapts better, plays better, steps on necks better. The Europeans are amazing. It doesn't matter if they're playing in Scotland or the States, behind or ahead, favored or underdogs. Both teams have heart, but the Europeans' hearts thump a little louder. "They kicked our butts," Watson said again. "That's the bottom line." Something has to change. If it doesn't, you're going to see a lessening of interest in the Ryder Cup. After all, there's only so many times you can watch your dog get zapped by the electric fence. For starters, the PGA of America needs to bring back the guy who actually knows how to win one of these things: Azinger. He led the USA to that last victory, way back at Valhalla in 2008.

What's the harm in asking if he'd re-up? I'm not the only one who thinks this. Minutes after Europe clinched the Ryder Cup, former USA player Jason Dufner tweeted, @PaulAzinger #2016. And if Zinger wants to remain a one-and-done captain, then how about Fred Couples ? All he has done is win three Presidents Cups. Wait, I forgot: the politics of the PGA of America and the PGA Tour (which oversees the Presidents Cup) would be problematic. Answer: screw politics. Or how about a total out-of-the-box candidate: Mickelson? "Oh, no, no -- I've been on eight losing teams," he said, adding that he wouldn't consider such a thing until "way off in the future." As a last resort, maybe it's time to explore expedited U.S. citizenship for Paul McGinley , Jose Maria Olazabal or Bernhard Langer . Or see if Pete Carroll, Gregg Popovich or Nick Saban want to convert to golf. And while we're changing things, can someone please ask Michael Jordan and his cigars to stay home?

The last thing Team USA needs is another guy who hasn't won a championship since the late 1990s. Enough is enough. The Americans have won the Ryder Cup once this century. Once. Any longer and they'll forget how to spray champagne. The Europeans haven't forgotten. They doused each other. They danced. They celebrated. Team USA did what it usually does these days. It watched. Watson cuts back Ryder Cup captain's picks to three Watson cuts back Ryder Cup captain's picks to three The captain says he wants to give players one more slot to earn on merit. Post to Facebook Watson cuts back Ryder Cup captain's picks to three The captain says he wants to give players one more slot to earn on merit. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 6 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Watson cuts back Ryder Cup captain's picks to three Steve DiMeglio, USA TODAY Sports Published 8:09 a.m. ET March 20, 2013 | Updated 1:15 p.m.

ET March 20, 2013 Tom Watson was named the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the 2014 matches in a news conference Thursday in New York. (Photo: Michael Cohen, Getty Images) Story Highlights U.S. captain Tom Watson will have three captain's picks for 2014 "I just think giving players the opportunity to earn a spot on merit is the right thing to do" The USA faces Europe at Glenagles next year 9 CONNECT TWEET LINKEDIN 6 COMMENTEMAILMORE Three is better than four. That's what U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson believes and Wednesday he announced he has trimmed his captain's selections from four to three players for the 2014 Ryder Cup. A points system will determine the top nine players who will automatically make the team. The USA had used four picks since captain Paul Azinger changed the selection process in 2008. "I just think giving players the opportunity to earn a spot on merit is the right thing to do," Watson said in Kansas City.

Watson, who captained the USA to victory in 1993 at The Belfry and was on three victorious Ryder Cup teams as a player, will try to turn the red, white and blue fortunes around in 2014 at Gleneagles in Perthshire, Scotland. The Americans have lost five of the last six matches, including a 14½-13½ shocker in September when the Europeans stormed back from a 10-4 deficit. Watson said he talked with four recent captains about the decision, including Azinger, who bumped up the captain's picks from two to four for the 2008 Ryder Cup, the last time the Americans won. "I did talk to Paul. He is behind this 100%," Watson said. Watson added that he has considered 10 people for his assistants. "They play an integral part of the process," Watson said. "But the bottom line for the players themselves is that they are the catalysts. " … The players will know I have been through the Ryder Cup before. They will know I know what they are going through, what they are feeling." The points system begins with this year's Masters.

All four majors in 2013 will count toward the points system. Starting with the Frys.com Open in October, which begins the new wrap-around season for the PGA Tour, all Tour tournaments will count toward the points process. Double points will be awarded for each major in 2014. Details on the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup points system: •Prize money earned in the 2013 major championships (Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship): One point is awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points. •Prize money earned in 2014 PGA Tour events, beginning Oct. 7, 2013, at the Frys.com Open through the 2014 PGA Championship, ending Aug. 10, 2014. One point is awarded for every $1,000 earned, excluding the major championships, events played opposite major championships and events played opposite World Golf Championships; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points.

•Prize money earned for the 2014 major championships: (Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, and the PGA Championship). Two points are awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points. •Prize money earned in 2014 events played opposite the major championships and opposite World Golf Championships between Jan. 1 and the 2014 PGA Championship — one-half point will be awarded for every $1,000 earned; all U.S. players making the cut will earn points. • U.S. captain Tom Watson will complete the team with three captain's selections in September 2014. Ryder Cup 2014: Paul Azinger not ruling out second spell as USA captain | Sport | The Guardian Ryder Cup 2014: Paul Azinger not ruling out second spell as USA captain • Phil Mickelson gave support to Azinger’s 2008 strategy • Azinger: I’m not going to rule anything out Paul Azinger with the Ryder Cup trophy after he captained USA to victory over Europe in the 2008 event.

Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images Press Association Tuesday 30 September 2014 03.32 EDT Last modified on Monday 4 April 2016 10.34 EDT Close This article is 2 years old Phil Mickelson could get his wish after Paul Azinger said on Monday he was open to a second spell as US Ryder Cup captain. Mickelson caused controversy on Sunday when, within two hours of the United States suffering a third straight defeat in the biennial contest, he criticised the approach of Tom Watson . With his captain sitting just a few feet away, Mickelson – who had been left out of a full day’s play on Saturday for the first time in 10 Ryder Cup appearances – stated his support for the methods of Azinger, who captained the side to their last win, at Valhalla in 2008. “Unfortunately we have strayed from a winning formula for the last three Ryder Cups and we need to consider maybe getting back to that formula that helped us play our best,” Mickelson said.

Asked if he would captain the side again, Azinger told USA Today: “I’m not going to rule anything out.” The 54-year-old said the United States needed to move away from appointing “lone wolf” captains, instead copying the European model of selecting players who had experience of the Ryder Cup as vice-captains. He said: “The PGA of America [which appoints the captain] has officers that move up the ranks, getting sage advice along the way, and then many of them stick around and keep offering advice. I think the PGA of America should recognise their business model is exactly the same as Europe uses in selecting a captain.” Of the past 10 US captains, only two had previously been vice-captains. “There is a razor-thin line between winning and losing these matches,” Azinger added. “Europe has the intangible right now. They give themselves the extra 1% chance to win through its business model and cohesiveness. “Even if you play blackjack perfectly in a casino, the casino still has a very slight edge against you.

Right now Europe is the casino and the US is the guy walking to the blackjack table with a fistful of 50s.” Azinger’s success was based on a “pod” system, which involved creating three groups of four players and allowing them to have a major influence on decisions, while Watson appeared to rely almost exclusively on his opinion and that of his vice-captains. Asked whether he was consulted in any of the decision-making at Gleneagles, Mickelson said: “No. Nobody here was, in any decision.” Watson had said in the buildup that he would use a modified version of Azinger’s pod system but added on Sunday: “I didn’t discount it. I just had a different philosophy right off the bat. He [Mickelson] has a difference of opinion. That’s OK. My management philosophy is different than his.” Paul Azinger aware of Ryder Cup drumbeat calling his name Paul Azinger aware of Ryder Cup drumbeat calling his name Nobody is as a popular as a retired winner. That includes those with a Ryder Cup victory. Post to Facebook Paul Azinger aware of Ryder Cup drumbeat calling his name Nobody is as a popular as a retired winner. That includes those with a Ryder Cup victory.

Check out this story on USATODAY.com: CancelSend A link has been sent to your friend's email address. Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. 4 To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs Paul Azinger aware of Ryder Cup drumbeat calling his name Steve DiMeglio , USA TODAY Sports Published 11:54 a.m. ET Sept. 29, 2014 | Updated 3:07 p.m. ET Sept. 29, 2014 The USA team captain Paul Azinger celebrates the USA 16 1/2 - 11 1/2 victory at the 2008 Ryder Cup. Many fans and some players are hoping to see Azinger return as captain. (Photo: Andrew Redington Getty Images) Paul Azinger, on the tail end of a 10-day expedition on his Victory motorcycle from just outside the nation's capital to his home state of Florida, watched the final day of the Ryder Cup in a Harley-Davidson Motor Bar and Restaurant.

As soon as Europe wrapped up its 16½-11½ victory Sunday at the Centenary Course in Gleneagles, Scotland, its third consecutive triumph, sixth in the last seven matches and eighth in the last 10, Azinger got back on his bike, fired it up and drove home. The question now is, will Azinger be heading back to the Ryder Cup. "I'm not going to rule anything out," Azinger, the last victorious U.S. captain in the Ryder Cup, said on Monday. His phone started blowing up with text messages and voice mails shortly after the U.S. team's post-match press conference. During an awkward, testy session, Phil Mickelson said the Americans had strayed from the formula employed by Azinger that brought them victory in 2008. Phil Mickelson, Tom Watson divided on Ryder Cup strategy It was a formula that allowed the players to be "invested in the process," Mickelson said, and let players in on nearly all the decision making. Mickelson said this year's players were not involved in one decision captain Tom Watson made, including benching Mickelson on Saturday, the first time in 10 Ryder Cups he sat out an entire day.

Sitting in the middle of the podium was Watson, at 65 the oldest captain in history and the last winning U.S. captain on foreign soil, in 1993. He stared ahead as Mickelson praised Azinger. When asked to respond, Watson, who was a surprise pick when named captain two years ago, said he had a different philosophy than Azinger, relying on his gut as much as anything. USA loses to Europe in Ryder Cup When reached by phone at his home in Bradenton, Fla., Azinger said he wasn't about to cast blame and wouldn't comment on what was said in the press conference. Instead, he thought to 2016 when the Ryder Cup will be played at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota. Simply, he said, the PGA of America, in its search for a winning template, should look at themselves for the answers. "It is time for the PGA of America to recognize the great disconnect and formulate the same business model for selecting a captain as it does for selecting its president and officers," Azinger told USA Today Sports. Azinger said Europe follows a similar business model where potential captains build up experience as Ryder Cup vice captains, learning from that year's captain and other vice captains.

For instance, this year's Europe captain was Paul McGinley, who was a vice captain in 2010 and 2012. The 2012 captain, Jose Maria Olazabal, was a vice captain in 2008 and 2010. This year, Olazabal, Sam Torrance (captain in 2002), Padraig Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez were vice captains, with Harrington and Jimenez potential future captains. "The PGA of America has officers that move up the ranks, getting sage advice along the way. And then many of them stick around and keep offering advice," Azinger said. "I think the PGA of America should recognize their business model is exactly the same as what Europe uses in selecting a captain." Europe consistently repeats a philosophy of leadership, where every captain has learned from captains in the past, Azinger said. "It is an approach that is comfortable and familiar," Azinger said, "which is in contrast to the U.S. practice that is less comfortable and completely unfamiliar to every repeat player. The U.S. players have to adjust to a completely unique system to the previous two years." Of the past 10 U.S.

captains, only three were previously assistant captains. "We have lone wolf captains," Azinger said. Azinger was a lone wolf captain without past experience besides being a player. But he was forceful enough to change the system – getting four captain's picks instead of two; waiting longer to make those picks; changing the qualifying system to get hotter players. And Azinger didn't go it alone. He involved his players, including their theories for the captain's picks and partners for the team matches. Once he had his team in place, he split them into three groups of four – his pods – so they could become closer units in a big family. He said his formula was all about getting the players in the best possible place to go out and play their best possible golf. "There is a razor-thin line between winning and losing these matches," Azinger said. "Europe has the intangible right now. They give themselves the extra 1% chance to win through its business model and cohesiveness. "Even if you play blackjack perfectly in a casino, the casino still has a very slight edge against you. Right now Europe is the casino and the U.S.

is the guy walking to the blackjack table with a fistful of $50s." PHOTO GALLERY: Sunday at the Ryder Cup A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Keegan Bradley looks over a bunker on the first hole. Thomas J. Russo USA TODAY Sports Patrick Reed of the United States celebrates his putt on the 11th green. Mike Ehrmann Getty Images Detailed view of the American flag shoes of USA player Bubba Watson. Brian SpurlockUSA TODAY Sports USA player Phil Mickelson putts on the 2nd hole. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports Amy Mickelson the wife of USA player Phil Mickelson high fives USA fans. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports Hunter Mahan bounces his ball off his putter after winning the 2nd hole. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Sep 28, 2014; Auchterarder, Perthshire, SCT; European golfer Justin Rose looks for where his ball lands after hitting out of a sand trap on the 2nd hole on day three during the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Resort - PGA Centenary Course.

Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: USATSI-175318 ORIG FILE ID: 20140928_jla_ss1_017.jpg Brian Spurlock Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports Patrick Reed chips onto the second green. Glyn Kirk AFP/Getty Images Fullscreen AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Henrik Stenson of Europe lines up a putt with caddie Gareth Lord on the 8th green during the Singles Matches of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel on September 28, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 493600831 ORIG FILE ID: 456252278 Mike Ehrmann Getty Images US fans are pictured on the first tee. Ben Stansall AFP/Getty Images tephen Gallacher of Europe acknowledges the crowd. David Cannon Getty Images Jim Furyk lines up his putt on the 2nd hole.

Harry How Getty Images Matt Kuchar celebrates after winning the 2nd hole. Harry How Getty Images Rory McIlroy and caddie J.P. Fitzgerald walk to the first tee. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports European Ryder Cup player Rory McIlroy celebrates winning the sixth hole. Eddie Keough Reuters Matt Kuchar lines up a putt on the 1st hole. Jamie Squire Getty Images Phil Mickelson reacts after a missed putt on the 2nd hole. Harry How Getty Images Bubba Watson lines up a putt on the 1st hole. Jamie Squire Getty Images U.S. Ryder Cup player Patrick Reed chips onto the second green. Toby melville Reuters Rory McIlroy of Europe and Rickie Fowler of the United States on the 2nd green. Harry How Getty Images Hunter Mahan celebrates winning the first hole . Phil Noble Reuters Rory McIlroy of Europe tees off on the 2nd hole. Mike Ehrmann Getty Images U.S. Ryder Cup player Rickie Fowler watches his shot from the rough.

Phil Noble Reuters Fullscreen AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Rickie Fowler of the United States (R) looks on as Rory McIlroy of Europe signals left after his tee shot on the 1st during the Singles Matches of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel on September 28, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 493600831 ORIG FILE ID: 456248814 Andrew Redington Getty Images Graeme McDowell of Europe walks onto the green with caddie Ken Comboy. Harry How Getty Images European Ryder Cup player Rory McIlroy celebrates going one up on the first hole. Phil Noble Reuters U.S. Ryder Cup player Patrick Reed hits out of a bunker on the first hole. Phil Noble Reuters Patrick Reed gestures on the 1st tee. Mike Ehrmann Getty Images European Ryder Cup player Graeme McDowell reacts after missing a chance to win the first hole.

Phil Noble Reuters The Gleneagles Resort hotel where the players have been staying during the 2014 Ryder Cup. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports Scoreboard on display showing Europe having a 10-6 lead at the start of day three during the 2014 Ryder Cup. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports A reenactor dressed as Scottish golfer Old Tom Morris sits in the media area. Thomas J. Russo USA TODAY Sports A banner on display at the course honoring Seve Ballesteros. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports ; Greenskeeper early in the morning cutting the grass on the 17th green on day three. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports Fans from Germany wait with others behind the first tee grandstands for the start of the first match to begin on day three of the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Resort. Thomas J. Russo USA TODAY Sports The scoreboard on display showing the results of the first two days. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports A banner of the Ryder Cup trophy on display at the course.

Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports Signage on display during the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Resort - PGA Centenary Course. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports A statue of the United States Johnnie Walker striding man on display at the course during the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles Resort - PGA Centenary Course. Brian Spurlock USA TODAY Sports Europe team vice captain Jose Maria Olazabal waves to the crowd on the 1st tee. Mike Ehrmann Getty Images A fan wears a Justin Rose face mask prior to the Singles Matches of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel. David Cannon Getty Images A view overlooking the 1st tee. Mike Ehrmann Getty Images Graeme McDowell of Europe tees off on the 1st hole during Sunday's single matches.

David Cannon Getty Images Fullscreen AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 28: Jordan Spieth of the United States tees off on the 1st hole during the Singles Matches of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel on September 28, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 493600831 ORIG FILE ID: 456247204 David Cannon Getty Images Graeme McDowell of Europe tees off on the 1st hole during the singles matches of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel . Harry How Getty Images Jordan Spieth points in the direction of his tee shot on the 2nd hole. Ross Kinnaird Getty Images Rickie Fowler plays a shot on the 2nd hole. Harry How Getty Images USA captain Tom Watson watches from the 1st tee. Andrew Redington Getty Images Patrick Reed celebrates on the 8th green.

Mike Ehrmann Getty Images Zach Johnson looks on from the 1st tee during his singles match on Sunday. David Cannon Getty Images European Ryder Cup player Henrik Stenson walks in front of a scoreboard. Eddie Keough Reuters European Ryder Cup player Rory McIlroy (R) celebrates. McIlroy defeated Rickie Fowler on Sunday in their singles match. Eddie Keough Reuters Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries: Replay Davis Love III, U.S. Ryder Cup Captain, Faces Criticism After Defeat - The New York Times The New York Times Golf |After Cup Defeat, Scrutiny Over Captain’s Picks Search Continue reading the main story Photo The United States team captain Davis Love III, right, with Bubba Watson, left, and Webb Simpson after the Americans’ loss. Credit Matt Sullivan/Reuters MEDINAH, Ill. It easily could have been José María Olazábal sitting on the hot seat Sunday night, defending his decision to bench Ian Poulter, his hottest player, during the best-ball matches on the first day of the 39th Ryder Cup.

If the Europeans’ comeback bid had fallen short, Olazábal’s handling of Poulter, who finished 4-0, would have come under attack, as would the circumstances resulting in Rory McIlroy, Europe’s top player, being left back at the team hotel Sunday as his tee time drew near as if he were Macaulay Culkin’s character in “Home Alone.” Any slings and arrows directed at Olazábal were deflected by the putters of Justin Rose, Sergio García, Martin Kaymer and Poulter, all of whom won their singles matches in dramatic fashion Sunday to lead the Europeans to a 14 ½-13 ½ victory. The United States captain, Davis Love III , presided over his team more like Joe Torre than Billy Martin, and his laid-back, collegial approach won praise until Sunday’s second-to-last match was lost. The criticism was redirected at Love after one of his four captain’s picks, Steve Stricker, succumbed to Kaymer on the last hole to allow the Europeans to keep the Cup that they won in 2010. Continue reading the main story Stricker went 0-4 in his matches.

Two other discretionary picks, Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker, each mustered a point. Among the golfers who failed to make the United States team on merit, only Dustin Johnson, who finished 3-0, played well enough to validate their inclusion. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Captain’s picks are a sticky wicket, introducing subjectivity to a black-and-white game in which what you score is what you get. If there was a lesson to be learned from the performance of Love’s picks, it was that experience is overrated when the veterans in question are experienced in losing. Stricker, 45, and Furyk, 42, were picked for their experience and because, as contemporaries of their 48-year-old captain, their presence fostered a Love-fest. Between them, they have appeared in 11 Ryder Cups. Furyk has been on two winning teams and Stricker, one. After the United States’ crushing defeat in 2006, Paul Azinger, the 2008 American captain, successfully lobbied for four captain’s picks instead of two.

In the wake of the team’s dispiriting defeat Sunday, the PGA of America should seriously consider returning to two captain’s picks. A Ryder Cup spot ought to be earned, not awarded. Consider the European team, which managed nicely with just two captain’s picks: Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts. When weighing his picks, the next United States captain, probably David Toms, should remember that an unfamiliarity with losing is a plus. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy On Sunday, the last five players Love sent out in singles included Furyk, Stricker and Tiger Woods. “We had what we felt like was the steady-Eddie guys in the back,” Love said. “We thought it was a great lineup.” Those three were a combined 2-8-1 over the three days of the competition. If that’s steadiness, give us the excitability of Keegan Bradley, who went 3-1, or the impassivity of Dustin and Zach Johnson. There was a telling moment in the team’s post-Cup news conference.

It came when Love was asked to explain why he chose to bench Phil Mickelson and Bradley for Saturday’s best-ball format even though they were undefeated as a team and had had a relatively light workload, having been extended to 44 holes through three matches. Love was four sentences into his answer when Mickelson grabbed his microphone and interrupted. “Hold on one sec, Davis,” he began: “As far as playing Keegan and I, you need to hear something. Keegan and I knew going in that we were not playing in the afternoon, and we said on the first tee, we are going to put everything we have into this one match, because we are not playing the afternoon.” Mickelson continued: “And when we got to 10, I went to Davis and I said, ‘Listen, you’re seeing our best. You cannot put us in the afternoon, because we emotionally and mentally are not prepared for it. And I know you’re going to get pressure, because we’re playing so good. But we have other guys that are dying to get out there, and we have mentally put everything into this match. We won’t have anything later, and so you need to stay to our plan.’ ” Our plan?

For all his skillfulness in creating harmony among a murderer’s row of egos, Torre drew the line at letting his players determine the batting order. Just ask Alex Rodriguez, who was dropped to eighth in the lineup against Detroit in a playoff series. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Love said the scene that Mickelson described was “one of my most special moments this week.” It was head-scratching, Love’s embracing a player who figuratively handed him the ball when he hadn’t come out and asked for it. On the European side, McIlroy and Rose had no problem playing five matches. To the contrary, they were able to produce their best golf Sunday, which is how Love ended up on the hot seat. Correction: October 5, 2012 The On Golf column on Tuesday, about Davis Love III’s captain’s picks for the United States team that lost at the Ryder Cup, misstated Ian Poulter’s record for the European team at the event. He was 4-0, not 3-0. The error was repeated in a caption for a picture that showed Poulter celebrating.

A version of this article appears in print on October 2, 2012, on Page B13 of the New York edition with the headline: Some Questionable Picks, Starting With the Captain. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe

Question: Who captained the USA to victory in the Ryder Cup in 2008?
Answer: Paul Azinger